You may have heard of ADHD, autism or dyslexia, but have you heard of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)?
DLD is a lifelong condition that affects the way a person learns and uses language. For some children, this might mean having trouble understanding what others are saying. For others, it may be difficult to find the right words, put sentences together or explain their ideas.
DLD is common. It is estimated that around 1 in 14 Australian children have DLD. That means there may be around two children in every classroom who have a language disorder.
What does DLD look like?
Every child with DLD is different, and their difficulties with language can look quite different too.
Some children with DLD may:
Be slower to start talking or reach early communication milestones
Find it difficult to follow instructions
Have trouble understanding questions or what others are saying
Use shorter or simpler sentences than other children their age
Have difficulty finding the right words
Take longer to learn new vocabulary
Find grammar difficult
Have trouble telling stories or explaining what has happened
Struggle with reading and writing
Find conversations and social situations challenging
It is also common for DLD to occur alongside ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia.
Children develop at different rates, and there can be many reasons why a child may be having difficulty with language. A speech pathologist can help work out what is going on by looking at a child's communication skills in more detail.
What causes DLD?
At this stage, we don't know exactly what causes Developmental Language Disorder.
We do know that DLD can run in families, so genetics are thought to play a role. Importantly, DLD is not caused by a child being lazy, not trying hard enough or by parents not talking to their child enough.
Why is DLD awareness important?
DLD is relatively common, but many people have never heard of it.
While awareness of conditions such as ADHD and autism has grown over the years, DLD is still not as well understood. This can sometimes mean that children with DLD don't get the support they need, or that their difficulties are misunderstood.
DLD Awareness Day is a great opportunity to change that. It helps families, teachers and the wider community learn more about DLD and understand the experiences of people living with it.
DLD Day is on Friday the 16th of October 2026. Families in Perth can also get involved in local activities and connect with other families who have experience with DLD. Find out more here.
Can children with DLD make progress?
DLD is lifelong, but that doesn't mean a child can't make progress. With the right support, children with DLD can develop their communication skills, build confidence and learn strategies that help them communicate more successfully.
Speech pathology can support children with areas such as understanding language, building vocabulary, using sentences, telling stories, following instructions and developing literacy skills.
While getting support early can be helpful, it is never too late to seek help. Children, teenagers and adults can all benefit from speech pathology support.
When should I speak to a speech pathologist?
If you have concerns about your child's speech or language development, it is worth having a conversation with a speech pathologist.
You don't need to wait until your child is struggling at school or falling behind their peers. Sometimes, simply having an assessment can help you understand your child's strengths and areas where they may need a little extra support.
Let's take a closer look together
If you have questions about your child's speech or language development, our speech pathologists are here to help. You don't need to wait until your child is struggling. Sometimes an assessment is simply a way to understand their strengths and where a little extra support might help.
